Global rice consumption seen rising to 542.4 million tonnes

17-Nov-2025 08:58 PM

Washington. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has raised its global rice consumption forecast for the 2025-26 season by 200,000 tons to 542.4 million tons in its November monthly report. This indicates an increase in rice consumption, particularly in countries like Nigeria and Egypt.

The USDA report has reduced its estimate of global rice availability by 400,000 tons to 729.1 million tons.

This is primarily due to low carryover stocks in Thailand and Senegal and declining production in Pakistan and Senegal. On the other hand, production is expected to increase in the Philippines and Egypt.

As for India, USDA has maintained its production forecast at the previous level of 151 million tons. Similarly, the domestic consumption estimate of 127 million tons has been unchanged.

According to USDA, if conditions remain normal, India's gross rice exports could jump sharply to an all-time high of 25 million tonnes in the 2025-26 marketing season, and even after this, the final surplus stock of rice could remain at 45.5 million tonnes.

According to the USDA report, global rice surplus stocks were available at the beginning of November 2025 at 188.2 million tonnes, slightly lower than the 188.4 million tonnes estimated at the beginning of September.

USDA has increased its global rice trade forecast for the 2025-26 season by 800,000 tonnes to 62.9 million tonnes, with India alone contributing around 25 million tonnes.

Countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, the United States, and Myanmar are also expected to export significant quantities of rice.